Lotharingia

Lotharingia was a medieval successor kingdom of the Frankish Empire, comprising present-day Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland in Germany and Lorraine in France. Lotharingia existed from 855 to 959, and Aachen served as its capital during its existence. Lotharingia was named in honor of King Lothair II of Lotharingia, who received the territory after King Lothaire of Italy divided Middle Francia among his sons. The death of Zwentibold of Lotharingia at the hands of Duke Reginar of Upper Lorraine in 900 ended Lotharingia's independence, and it became a duchy of East Francia. In 959, Lotharingia was partitioned between East Francia and West Francia, with the Kingdom of France receiving Upper Lorraine and the Holy Roman Empire receiving Lower Lorraine.